Perspectives of Mt. Fuji

Mt. Fuji beckons amazing amounts of visiting photographers every year. Even after 20 plus years exploring in the Mt. Fuji region, I feel compelled to introduce the iconic symbol of Japan to my friends who are photographers.  Mt. Fuji has been worshipped over for thousands of years even before Japan was called Japan, beginning with the First Nation’s People, the Ainu.  In the year 863, it became a sacred volcanic peak because of the magnitude of the lava that poured out.  That phenomenon created the Sea of Trees.  Aokigahara is a fantastic mystical forest that spans 24 square kilometers across the Northwest base of Mt. Fuji. Recommendations always come rooted in the form of personal experience, and Mt. Fuji and its surrounding area are no different.

I’m still using the same trail when entering the forest I did over 20 years ago, but the biggest difference now is the trail is busy with Japanese school children, on fields trips, being educated on the forests natural beauty, and facts, not folklore.  The Aokigahara forest spans over 3,000 hectares, and the forest is comprised primarily of Hemlock Fir, Japanese Cypress, other evergreens, and broadleafs such as the Longstalk Holly, Japanese Andromeda, Oak, Fuji Cherry, and Maple. There is no accurate count of the number caves some with ice throughout the forest and area. The forests popularity is growing among nature photographers, fine art photographer with its incalculable mythological forms appearing from tree roots and moss growing in around and over volcanic lava.